Opportunistic predation on birds trapped in mist nets in two areas in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACTMist netting is the most popular method for capturing birds, but it can increase the predation rates of individuals trapped in the nets. From 2008 to 2017, we recorded eight instances of opportunistic bird predation from mist nets (MNs) in a matrix mixing restored forest and fragments of semideciduous seasonal forest in southeastern Brazil, three times (37.5%) by exotic primates and five times (62.5%) by birds of prey. Overall predation rates (1.17–1.20%) at these two sites were considered high but were lower than in other Brazilian studies. Placing MNs near the edges of forest fragments may have allowed attacks by either forest predators or marmosets, which are exotic edge species. Some previously described precautions may decrease the predation rates of birds in MNs, such as shorter observation intervals, greater attention to given site selection and maintaining a safe distance between the MNs and the ground.